The Imagination Tree

Creative play and learning for kids

  • Home
  • Start here!
  • Welcome
    • About Me
    • Popular Posts
    • Play Challenge
    • Subscribe
  • Age
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Preschooler
    • School Age
  • Activities
    • Literacy
    • Numeracy
    • Creativity
    • Physical
    • PHSE
    • Science
  • Resources
    • Spaces
    • Toys
    • Books
  • Contact
  • Kindness Elves

DIY Plaster Casts for Doctor Role Play

January 22, 2014 by Anna Ranson

Create some real DIY plaster casts for teddies and dollies to make doctor role-play even more authentic and educational!

DIY plaster casts for doctor role play for kids

My 3 year old daughter is currently obsessed with all things medical related and has declared with all certainty that she WILL grow up to be a children’s doctor when she is older! We have written on here about our doctor role play and hospital role play  pre-writing ideas and we have a doctor themed birthday party planned for her 4th birthday in the Spring!

Doctor role play area

As much as possible with imaginative and role play scenarios, I try and provide real life objects rather than the plastic toy versions, as there is so much more that can be learnt and explored using real items. For Christmas she received a real stethoscope and a real First Aid kit, both of which she has adored playing with. There’s a lot of scope for developing language and understanding of how and why things are used in real life situations (and is also why I wouldn’t advocate ever setting up a role play area that the children haven’t already experienced in real life first.)Doctor pretend play with real plaster casts

So recently I thought it would be fun to enrich the medical play even further by adding a new dimension to the role play – making plaster casts! When I was teaching art I often used a wonderful sculpting material called Mod Roc which is very easy for kids to work with and has the added satisfaction of drying quite quickly (no waiting around for days to add more layers like with paper mache!)Making DIY plaster cast for doctor role play

It is essentially rolls of gauze, lightly layered with plaster, which can be wrapped and moulded when wet. It’s the perfect material for making DIY plaster casts! [I found ours at a local art shop but you can also find it here on Amazon.]

We cut the Mod Roc into small strips and I set out a small tub of water for them to be dipped into.

Plaster cast materials

First of all we opened up our fracture clinic and Pop examined all the patients to diagnose which bones were broken. Interestingly, they all seemed to have broken legs, with just one case of a “broken head” to add to the mix! [This activity would be even better with a light box and real X-rays, which we are hoping to get her for her birthday!]

She then wrapped all of the broken legs with real bandages from her kit, and gave them all injections to relieve the pain, using her pretend syringe pen.How to make DIY pretend play plaster casts

Once the bandages were secured she dipped the first strip of Mod Roc into the water, then, holding  the top in one hand, she smoothed down the length of the strip using one finger at the front and one at the back in scissor-like pose. This squeezes some of the water out and, mrs importantly, joins the little holes together to make a smooth surface of plaster. Don’t leave the Mod Roc in the water for too long (5-10 seconds is ample), otherwise the plaster just dissolves off the strip altogether.Pretend play plaster casts

We then continued to add strips in this way, building up layers and wrapping around the legs carefully. If the strips seemed a little dry in places, we dipped our fingers in the water and smoothed over the surfaces and joins to make it all even.

Once they were all applied, we tucked them up in the recovery room (i.e. on top of an old blanket!) and left the casts to dry for about 30-60 minutes.

The dolls are still in plaster as their bones haven’t healed yet, but the mini casts should snip right off very easily with a pair of scissors when the game is finally over!Real plaster casts for doctor role play

A few common sense points to bare in mind:

Don’t ever do this over real body parts- just on dolls!

Mod Roc can get a little messy if it drips, but it should sweep up easily once dry (similar to crushed chalk.) Probably best to use a wipeable doll rather than fabric, or teddy bear etc (although it would wash fine I’m sure)

Don’t leave kids to do this alone or  allow them to put it in their mouths

What they are learning as they play:

knowledge of the world: medical vocabulary, understanding what equipment is used for

creativity: using sculpting materials, pretend and imaginative play scenarios

sensory: exploring materials with fingers

phse: thinking about and caring for others, empathy

Cakie: 5.4

Pop: 3.10

Bean: 1.11

 

[This post contains Amazon affiliate links for your convenience.]

Related Posts

  • How to Dye Pasta for Sensory PlayHow to Dye Pasta for Sensory Play
  • DIY I-Spy BottlesDIY I-Spy Bottles
  • DIY Mini Roads SetDIY Mini Roads Set
  • Sensory Storytelling Spoons for We’re Going on a Bear HuntSensory Storytelling Spoons for We’re Going on a Bear Hunt
  • Christmas Tree Pinch PotChristmas Tree Pinch Pot
  • DIY Rainbow Glow Art TrayDIY Rainbow Glow Art Tray

Filed Under: Age, DIY, Doctor, Dolls, Dramatic Play, Imaginative Play, Learn, Make, PHSE, Play, Preschooler, Resources, Role Play, School Age, Science, Sculpture Tagged With: DIY, Role-Play

« Creative Arts Area and Gallery for Kids
Threading Beads Alphabet Activity »

Comments

  1. Emma says

    January 22, 2014 at 9:44 pm

    oooh Anna, I remember you mentioning this a while ago, my girls will love it, I’m off to buy some now.x

  2. Marcia says

    January 22, 2014 at 11:48 pm

    That’s a fun idea. I’ve actually done this with students on their hands and faces. you just need to really slather on the vaseline. As long as you are just using plaster strips it should be fine. Then you can pull them off and paint Leave a hole around the mouth to breathe of course.

  3. Kate - An Everyday Story says

    January 26, 2014 at 12:01 pm

    Anna this is just too wonderful. The x-rays will be great. She’ll love them. You could draw some on OHT paper. What a wonderful exploration. I love it.

  4. Rachel | Racheous - Lovable Learning says

    January 27, 2014 at 12:34 am

    How fun and a very timely post for us with our recent post on doctor play and writing prescriptions! Love your ideas!

  5. is rachael ray cookware oven safe says

    February 9, 2014 at 9:58 am

    Wonderful put up, very informative. I wonder why the opposite experts of this sector do not realize this. You should continue your writing. I am sure, you have a great readers’ base already!|What’s Going down i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I have found It absolutely helpful and it has aided me out loads. I’m hoping to give a contribution & aid different customers like its aided me. Good job.

  6. Christina says

    February 27, 2014 at 11:38 pm

    This is such a great idea. My DD Loo-Who loves pretending to be a doctor. I can’t wait to get this stuff to extend her play. 🙂 thanks for such a great idea.

  7. Robin says

    February 28, 2014 at 12:03 am

    I would love it if you added a pinterest button to your blog posts. I would love to pin this post and others I’ve seen on your site. I don’t have the add-on myself because I have to agree to let them view all the sites I visit. I think that’s icky 🙂

  8. EmilyJam says

    March 21, 2014 at 4:37 pm

    wow, awesome article post.Really looking forward to read more. Really Great.
    handyman

  9. BatesAta says

    July 10, 2014 at 1:31 pm

    I think this is a real great article.Really looking forward to read more. Really Cool.
    Handyman

Trackbacks

  1. 100+ Activities for Preschoolers - Playdough To Plato says:
    January 30, 2014 at 11:04 am

    […] DIY Plaster Casts for Doctor Role Play by The Imagination Tree […]

  2. Easy indoor activity ideas for kids says:
    February 13, 2014 at 8:01 am

    […] girls love role play games, we can’t wait to try DIY Plaster Casts on our dolls from The Imagination […]

  3. Doctor Role Play with a Science Twist says:
    March 10, 2014 at 10:15 am

    […] love this DIY plaster cast post from The Imagination […]

  4. 365+ Ways to Make Writing Fun for Kids | My Little Bookcase says:
    April 27, 2014 at 11:37 am

    […] 4. Plaster casts and plaster […]

  5. 40 Best Pretend Play Activities says:
    June 22, 2014 at 2:12 pm

    […] Plaster Casts for Doctor Role Play | The Imagination Tree […]

The Imagination Tree on FacebookThe Imagination Tree on TwitterThe Imagination Tree on PinterestThe Imagination Tree on G+RSS feed from The Imagination TreeThe Imagination Tree straight to your inbox

Search The Imagination Tree

About The Imagination Tree Hello and welcome! I'm Anna, Mama of 4, early years teacher and play enthusiast from the UK! Click here to read more about me.

The Kindness Elves Store
Play Ideas on The Imagination Tree

Create with The Imagination Tree

Makes on The Imagination Tree

Sign up for our FREE emails:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Categories

Archives

Copyright © 2023 · Foodie Pro Theme by Shay Bocks · Built on the Genesis Framework · Powered by WordPress

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT